Can you use this as a casserole-type cooker without the steamer insert (for example, to make soups or stews)?
28171
I reheat in this without the steamer. I like this steamer very much. Great job on broccoli,beans, etc. Reheats rice perfectly. Use it all the time.
28172
In the microwave? I suppose so. I put leftover soup or spaghetti in a small one to reheat for lunch. Personally I prefer to make the soup on a stove top so the flavors have more time to blend, but if you were making something simple, I don't see why it wouldn't work.
720112
There is no rack just the liner pot so you would not be able to steam veggies as well as meat for example . You would have to cook separately . You don't really need a rack for cooking veggies, I just use about 1/2 inch of water for veggie cooking. I have used this for cooking many recipies and you can cook things like dried beans without soaking in less than an hour. I hope this helps.
573278
Did you use the stainless pot? I have never tried making soup with it - just rice and steam (buns, left overs, eggs, meat etc). I don't think it would be good to make soup because soups usually take hours and the water outside the stainless inner pot will dry out before the soup is ready. You can make congee with it but soup is probably better with regular pot or a croakpot. Hope that helps.
614124
Yes.. You can.It is a mini rice cooker. You may have to soak it a few minutes depending on how hard it is.
377408
Not a dumb question at all. Yes, you do use it with a little water and when you are ready to grab the metal circle to take the steamer out of the pot please becareful and use a fork or something that will hold in place, it will slowly expand all the way out. I use it for my vegetable and pasta dishes.
380612
I wouldn't, I would use a slow cooker. You can steam veggies in it with the basket that comes with it.
228500
Yes you can do as described but it isn't really steaming but rather boiling the veggies. The legs on this unit are nubs and not long enough to lift veggies put of water. A steam basket would be more appropriate. There is one made of stainless with 1" legs built to open (blossom like a flower) to fit the vessel being used to cook with. BTW it doesn't take a few inches to steam veggies for most families. The less water used the faster the water will create steam.
455304
No. The insert has to be ordered separately. I only used mine once as there are other, more convenient ways to steam food which do not require a pressure cooker. There may be special uses for insert mentioned in the WMF cookbook, but I did not try them.
1852690
I reread the owner's manual and it doesn't mention of it being a steamer, only a rice cooker. The manual contains recipes on mixed rice, rice porridge with herbs, sweet rice with mountain vegetables, and mixed brown rice.
495397
I don't believe it does, but from a steamer point of view you should not need it. The steam is doing the cooking, not the steamer.
1376981
I suppose you could, but personally I would not want to use a plastic pot for an extended period of time. A stock pot or crock pot works great for soups being cooked lengthy amounts of time. This prep works set is ideal for cooking pasta or steaming rice in the microwave. It will also cook or steam veggies. My daughter uses it in the microwave in her dorm room--very handy and versatile.
2125075
I don't think it would work very well for that purpose, but I've never used a pasta pot before so hopefully someone else will answer your question better. It's an awesome steamer! ;)
2266048
this is a steamer == have never used it to cook other types of food . recommend you use something meant to cook mac and cheese .
742011
Yes, or the equivalent size casserole pan. The bottom of this steamer basket is perforated to allow the steam from the boiling water in the sauce pan or casserole pan to pass through and steam the food.
911050
I agree with the other reviewer. Yes, it can be used as a soup pot without the strainer. I do it all the time. However, when browning beef in it, they stick horribly and the overall quality seems very flimsy. You definitely get what you pay for in this case.
2197580
Hi :)I bought this specifically to steam 1-2 person servings of veggies and it's fantastic. Yeah, you could totally warm-up or make soup in the bottom pot, and not use the top/steaming basket at all. I'm not sure if it's non-stick surface so maybe be careful with creamy soups that could burn, stick, and turn into a super mess & headache to clean afterwards. Maybe broth based soups? Just keep in mind this puppy is only 1 quart so it's pretty tiny. If you're making soup for 1 person it's probably perfect but you've got limited space. Last thing, be careful the handles get super hot. Use with care and don't burn yourself!I hope this helps a little with your purchase InvisibleCloak -Best, Katherina Hi :)I bought this specifically to steam 1-2 person servings of veggies and it's fantastic. Yeah, you could totally warm-up or make soup in the bottom pot, and not use the top/steaming basket at all. I'm not sure if it's non-stick surface so maybe be careful with creamy soups that could burn, stick, and turn into a super mess & headache to clean afterwards. Maybe broth based soups? Just keep in mind this puppy is only 1 quart so it's pretty tiny. If you're making soup for 1 person it's probably perfect but you've got limited space. Last thing, be careful the handles get super... » Read More Hi :)I bought this specifically to steam 1-2 person servings of veggies and it's fantastic. Yeah, you could totally warm-up or make soup in the bottom pot, and not use the top/steaming basket at all. I'm not sure if it's non-stick surface so maybe be careful with creamy soups that could burn, stick, and turn into a super mess & headache to clean afterwards. Maybe broth based soups? Just keep in mind this puppy is only 1 quart so it's pretty tiny. If you're making soup for 1 person it's probably perfect but you've got limited space. Last thing, be careful the handles get super hot. Use with care and don't burn yourself!I hope this helps a little with your purchase InvisibleCloak -Best, Katherina « Show Less
1073085
Yes you can even though that is not the purpose of a pressure cooker. The best use for this would be to cook meat/vegetable/rice faster with the build up of steam inside.